Comments on: Casey to start at first in Cincy

By: Evan Brunell

Evan Brunell — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:27:12 +0000

I’m not advocating he be roasted, but it can be a slippery slope. Buckner was emotional. There are the right emotional moves and the wrong ones. This is a right one. I just don’t want it to become par for the course.

By: jvwalt

jvwalt — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:58:57 +0000

Was it an emotional decision to start Casey tonight? The Reds are starting their best right-handed pitcher. There’s a perfectly valid reason to start Casey. Maybe it’s time Youk got a night off; if so, this is a good one to take.
I’m not denying that emotion played a part, but most likely a secondary one. I don’t see why Francona should be roasted for the move.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:56:41 +0000

More on topic though, I don’t think giving Casey a game is going to be that bad. Plus it’s not like Youk will sit the whole series.

By: Shane

Shane — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:54:47 +0000

I think you can argue either way for who gets the benefit in interleague play. But I think it does come down to this:
AL pitchers never practice hitting
Most, NL teams have a guy better suited to DH than play the field. You can’t tell me the Reds don’t get an advantage to having Griffey or Dunn hit only and a defensive guy out in the field.

By: Sean O

Sean O — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:15:46 +0000

I don’t buy any “NL advantage” argument. It just means that most NL teams get to start some scrub as DH while we (sigh) have Ortiz.

By: Tim Daloisio

Tim Daloisio — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:02:36 +0000

I don’t see any problem or potential tension caused by this. I also don’t know that this is emotion clouding judgment. Emotion is “in play” with the decision, but I don’t have any problem giving Youk a night off at first and this is a great time to do it. Sean Casey back in Cincy side story is a nice side benefit.

By: Shawn Medeiros

Shawn Medeiros — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:00:17 +0000

I think both sides should just play with the D.H. but that is just me.